Thursday, July 14, 2011

Levitz & Batista To Continue "Month of the Mini's" Glory with Legion of Super-Heroes: Secret Origin

That's right. Superman did it. Hal Jordan did it. Now the Legion will be doing it this October when Legion of Super-Heroes: Secret Origin kicks off. The 6-issue mini-series, which continues the DCnU "Month of the Mini's," will tell the DCnU Legion of Super-Heroes origin story.

As you can see the turtle-neck-thing that Superman, Green Lantern, Aquaman, and several other superheroes carries on to the 31st Century, as Cosmic Boy has a turtle-neck-thing on the cover of LSH: SO #1.

This, being officially announced on Newsarama earlier today, shows signs that the rest of DC's teenage superhero category "Young Justice" will be announced this afternoon.

I hope we might yet get my "Power Girl & Booster Gold" mini that I'm hoping for when the "Justice League" category is announced. I assume that tomorrow will be that category along with Superman. Or possibly both Superman & Young Justice today, with Justice League following tomorrow.

Maybe we will see a new mini about Krypton. And when I say Krypton, I mean the original Krypton. Not the New Krypton stuff.

Thoughts? Sound off below

Green Lantern-Related Series Don't Get Mini, Sinestro stays through (at least) Green Lantern #2

So early yesterday morning, which I also reported, DC announced that Thaal Sinestro would be starring in Green Lantern #1 this coming September.

I immediately thought "There's no way that this is permanent. Maybe it lasts for like an issue." Well once DC released the October solicits for the Green Lantern-themed books...I had to think otherwise;
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That right there is Doug Mahnke & Christian Alamy's cover to Green Lantern #2 showing Sinestro fighting through his own (former) Corps-men to free Korugar from the Corps of fear.

It has also been said that the Sinestro Corps will still be called...just that.

So where will this lead for the future of the Green Lantern Corps & the Sinestro Corps?

Here's the solicit for Green Lantern #2:
"GREEN LANTERN #2
Written by GEOFF JOHNS
Art and cover by DOUG MAHNKE and CHRISTIAN ALAMY
Variant cover by DAVID FINCH
1:200 B&W variant cover by DOUG MAHNKE
On sale OCTOBER 12 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Renegade Green Lantern Sinestro sets a course for Korugar with one purpose: To free his homeworld from the scourge of… The Sinestro Corps?!"

So they're still calling Sinestro a renegade? Even though the Guardians apparently stripped Hal of his ring in Green Lantern #67 and gave it to Sinestro?

Obviously Hal is going to get his ring back eventually. He's in Justice League and he was the main character in the Green Lantern movie. I mean...come on.

It looks like the Corps is going along, business as usual...even though Sinestro is now a Green Lantern. How is it that Kilowog, John, Guy, and Kyle aren't yelling at the Guardians 24/7? Fucking kiss-asses...

Anyway, it looks like there will be a couple of new rookies that become rather main characters (see that girl in the little pink and green GL outfit?) in the new series, which I don't mind. I think if the series is going to be called "Green Lantern Corps", then it should be about the Corps. Not the other two Earth-based GL's that didn't get their own series. The only reason I don't wanna read this series, is because Fernando Pasarin. If the series gets good reviews, I may end up reading some.

Here's the official solicit:
"GREEN LANTERN CORPS #2
Written by PETER J. TOMASI
Art by FERNANDO PASARIN and SCOTT HANNA
Cover by ALEX GARNER
On sale OCTOBER 19 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Guy Gardner and John Stewart lead a squadron of Green Lanterns to fight a mysterious force that is marching across the space sectors and devouring not only their natural resources but their entire populations. Worst of all, those responsible have a vendetta against the Green Lantern Corps!"

Hopefully we'll see Stel, Hannu, Kilowog, Arisia, Soranik Natu, and so on. As long as they are promised a decent amount of "screen-time", I may read.

So now that we're clear of the disasters-to-be that are Green Lantern and Green Lantern Corps, here come my two favorite series.

So here we see Kyle leading a group of Arkillo, Bleez, Saint Walker, Munk (my second-favorite character in this series, by far), Glomulus, and an unnamed Star Sapphire. She doesn't quite look like Carol, if you ask me. And plus Carol has more important things to do as Queen of the Star Sapphires...assuming that still actually happened.

Okay, people. I absolutely love Tyler Kirkham artwork. If I had to listen my top 5 favorite artists of all-time in comics, he'd be #2. The only person I like better than him is Jim Lee. So I'm going to be really happy starting in September. And just so I put it out there, Aaron Lopresti is my third favorite artist.

This series is like #2 on my "Want-List" behind Justice League and followed by Justice League International. I also love the emotional spectrum, and all of that stuff. But you can read about all of that soon in my Upcoming Ongoings: Green Lantern: New Guardians post.

Here is the official solicit:
"GREEN LANTERN: NEW GUARDIANS #2
Written by TONY BEDARD
Art by TYLER KIRKHAM, HARVEY TALIBAO and BATT
Cover by TYLER KIRKHAM and BATT
On sale OCTOBER 26 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
By their rings betrayed! Who – or what – has the might to tear power rings from each of the seven Lantern Corps, murdering their former bearers in the process? And why have the rings all chosen Kyle Rayner as their new master? As members of each Corps target Kyle for death, we learn more about the shocking fate of Ganthet!"

Wait...are they trying to kill Kyle? And did they say something about Ganthet dying? Wow...I ALREADY LOVE THIS SERIES!

Interesting...you know who my fourth favorite artist is? You guessed it! Ivan Reis. Hahaha. My fifth favorite, though, would have to be Ed Benes.

Red Lanterns.. Hmm.. I, personally, would've preferred an Indigo Tribe ongoing series, but whatever. Atrocitus is still pretty damn badass. And he's not a kiss-ass like Kilowog, Kyle, John, and Guy. If anything, Atrocitus wants the Guardians dead.

So this series looks like it will be a lot like Green Lantern Corps, but includes more killing, violence, and no whiny-ass Guardians...hmm... Plus Peter Milligan & Ed Benes? Sign me up!

Here's the official solicit:
"RED LANTERNS #2
Written by PETER MILLIGAN
Art and cover by ED BENES and ROB HUNTER
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T+
On a war-torn world where invading forces fight insurgent forces, the innocent always suffer the most. When a child screams with red-hot rage at the madness around her, she is answered by her weapon of retribution: Atrocitus."

Oh, and if you ever read the Green Lantern issue from last year where Lobo came out of nowhere and fought the New Guardians (back when that was Hal, Sinestro, Caorl, etc.), he took a Red Lantern ring. I wonder...will that tie into this series at all, eventually? PLEASE SAY YES, MILLIGAN.

Anyway, the other two groups that were solicited (the Bat-family and what DC is called "The Edge" comics), got a mini or two. So why didn't the Lanterns? Will the "Justice" solicits include a mini? Will the Super-family solicits? We'll have to wait and see.

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Green Lantern #1 Featuring Hal Jor--wait what's that? JUST IN: SEPTEMBER'S GREEN LANTERN #1 TO STAR THAAL SINESTRO

Yeah, that's right. I mean the solicit for GL #1 did say "a surprising new Lantern." Earlier today on DC's "The Source" blog, announced that Sinestro would be on the cover of September's Green Lantern #1. Where is fan-favorite Hal Jordan, you might ask? Nothing has been confirmed, yet, but I'm going to assume that he's still the main character of the series. DC (hopefully) isn't stupid enough to take a series away from Hal, just to give the same title and creative team to Sinestro. Just saying.

And obviously, Hal isn't losing the ring. He's in Geoff Johns & Jim Lee's Justice League series. So why does it say on the title of the Source's blog post "The New Green Lantern of Sector 2814 is revealed"? He's from over 1,000 space sectors away, in sector 1417. AND he is currently, at least, the leader of his self-named Corps (the Sinestro Corps).

So what does this mean for the (currently-named) Sinestro Corps? Will they be moving on with a new leader, considering their former boss to be an enemy? Will they rename the Corps? Is this only some kind of cheap tease for the cover? I'd prefer the last one.

I'm expecting the Green Lantern-themed solicits for later today, which I'm hoping will include a mini-series about one of the Corps (INDIGO TRIBE!!! PLEASE!!!). Or maybe a mini about Sinestro coming out of issue #1 of GL? One can only assume since October seems to be "the Month of the Mini-Series". Check in later/tomorrow for the GL solicits and hopefully more info on this surprising twist!

Thoughts?

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

October 2011 to be the "Month of the Mini-Series"?

Yesterday and today, DC began announcing their October 2011 solicits. They announced the ongoing series for Bat-family characters yesterday, and started with some "Dark" series and "the Edge" titles today. The obvious series that were announced last month (Batman, Batman and Robin, Red Hood and the Outlaws, StormWatch, Justice League Dark, and so on) were solicited with their second issues this morning. But then yesterday, DC announced two Bat-themed mini-series titles being started this October; The Huntress & Penguin: Pain and Prejudice.

The Huntress will be written by Paul Levitz (Legion of Super-Heroes) and pencils by Marcus To. Looking at the cover, alone, makes me see that her costume hasn't really changed. I mean, at least from how it was in Hush. I haven't really read any stories with her besides that.

Here's the solicit's info about the first issue:
"THE HUNTRESS #1
Written by PAUL LEVITZ
Art by MARCUS TO and JOHN DELL
Cover by GUILLEM MARCH
On sale OCTOBER 5 • 1 of 6, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US • RATED T
Look out! By the end of this hot new miniseries, the Huntress will have the largest price on her head in DC Universe history.
What will the Huntress do that warrants such a death mark? And who puts it there? The jaw-dropping events will be revealed as the Huntress heads home to Italy and embarks on a mission that defines her life. Don’t miss out, because this story will tie in to upcoming events in BIRDS OF PREY!"

Maybe once Huntress re-enters the whole Birds of Prey dynamic, I might start reading that series, too? Depending on how I like the mini. The only difference in her outfit that I can notice is that she has that new armor-look that just about every character has now. I hope that if Huntress is actually returning to Birds of Prey, then maybe Gail Simone will, too? And if Helena does return to the Birds, then I really hope she makes fun of Dinah's new outfit. "My god, Dinah. What the hell are you wearing?"

DC also announced the Penguin mini yesterday, too. Penguin: Pain and Prejudice will be written by Gregg Hurwitz and pencils by Szymon Kudranski (I already don't like this artist; his name is a pain in the ass to spell).
I never really did like the Penguin in much. I probably won't be reading it, but who knows.

Here is the official description:
"PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE #1
Written by GREGG HURWITZ
Art and cover by SZYMON KUDRANSKI
On sale OCTOBER 5 * 1 of 5, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US * RATED T
In this exciting new miniseries from novelist Gregg Hurwitz (You're Next) and rising star artist Szymon Kudranksi (Spawn), the painful and dark past of one of Batman's most devious foes is examined. How did young Oswald Cobblepot go from being the apple of his mother's eye to the leader of underworld gangs and adversary of The Caped Crusader? Find out in PENGUIN: PAIN AND PREJUDICE!"

It looks like it could end up being okay, but whatever. I'll read the reviews.

But the biggest new so-far coming out in October is probably The Shade. Fans have been waiting for James Robinson's Shade series to come out ever since his acclaimed Starman story.

The series features the character named "Shade" and will be a 12-issue mini-series, unlike the other two mini's which were 6- and 5-issue mini's, respectively.

Here's the official description:
"THE SHADE #1
Written by JAMES ROBINSON
Art by CULLY HAMNER
Cover by TONY HARRIS
1:10 Variant cover by CULLY HAMNER
On sale OCTOBER 12 * 1 of 12, 32 pg, FC, $2.99 US * RATED T+
Retailers: This issue will ship with two covers. See the Previews order form for more information.
James Robinson returns to the world of his acclaimed STARMAN series with a new 12-issue series starring the antihero known as The Shade! An attack at the Starman museum kicks off a globe-hopping, centuries spanning quest that will irrevocably change The Shade's life, and ultimately shed light on his true origin! Artist extraordinaire Cully Hamner (RED) kicks off the series, and upcoming issues will feature art by such luminaries as Darwyn Cooke, Javier Pulido, Jill Thompson, Frazer Irving and Gene Ha!"

So there's where at least Robinson is going to be for at least a year. This series actually looks pretty interesting so I'll probably pick it up. So that bumps my list of "Probable Comics to Buy in October" list up to 22...assuming that none of the ongoing series that I want are completely terrible (which I'm sure at least one will be).

So is October 2011 going to be considered the "Month of the Mini's"? I hope some more interesting ones come out (Can anyone say Booster Gold and Power Girl? Or at least one of them on their own?).

Thanks for reading, guys. Check in later for (hopefully) more information.